A book sling is an attractive way to organize and store books, especially in a child’s room. This DIY book sling is easy to make; all you need is a double towel bar in your favorite finish and any fabric of your choice.

This quick and easy sewing project will bring a nice organization solution to any room. At the end of this tutorial, we’ll show you how this book sling can also become a shoe sling to keep footwear organized and off the floor.

Step 1: Wash, Dry and Iron the Fabric

Tip: Before any sewing project, always wash and dry fabric to ensure that shrinking doesn’t happen later down the road. Ironing keeps the fabric crisp for easier pinning and sewing.

Step 2: Cut the Fabric

The towel bar is 24 in. long, therefore the fabric length needs to be 24 in. to match. However, based on the size of books needed to be held, cut the depth to properly hold. For example, a 5 in. book would need a 4 in. depth.

Step 3: Stitch the Fabric

Tip: Change your sewing machine setting to zig-zag, and zig-zag the edge of the fabric. This will help prevent fabric from fraying along the edges while assembling and will make hemming a lot easier.

Step 4: Pin the Fabric

Fold the fabric in half (patterned sides together) to create a 24 x 21-in. rectangle, and pin the two sides together in 1 to 1½-in. intervals. Leave a 5-in. opening on one of the short sides (so the fabric can be turned patterned sides out).

Step 5: Sew the Sling

Sew the pinned edges together and remember to leave unpinned edges open. Then pull the fabric inside-out, and fold it in raw edges to line up with the sewn edges.

Pin the edges together and iron them.

Hand sew the edges together.

Step 6: Add Pockets

The final sewing step is to make pockets for the towel bars to slip into.

For this, you will need to fold over each long edge by 2 in. Secure with pins, iron and sew a ¼-in. seam.

Step 7: Install the Towel Bar

Determine where you want to install your towel bar.

Most towel bars come with a step-by-step installation template. Use this for easy installation. Usually you will just need a pencil, a drill, a screwdriver and a level. It can be done in minutes.

Before mounting the second post, be sure to slip the book sling onto the bars.

Put the bars into the second post and hang the post on the wall.

Wall-Mounted Shoe Sling

This wall-mounted sling can be used to hold other items, such as shoes.